Okay, that does sound a bit dramatic but what else would you call a type of cancer that kills 2,300 people in the UK every year? Let’s face it, us Brits tend to throw caution to the wind when we see a few rays of sunshine at home and we are often completely irresponsible in the sun when abroad.

Every day in the UK, 200 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed. This tragedy is sharpened by the fact that The British Skin Foundation reckons that as many as four out of five such cases are entirely preventable.

Small amounts of UV radiation from the sun are beneficial for people and essential in the production of vitamin D but most of us can get adequate amounts by spending some time outdoors in natural light. The amount of UV radiation we expose ourselves too whilst sunbathing can, cumulatively, be deadly and result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system.

One mistake is believing that sunscreen is all you need to ward off the sun, and another is that the higher the SPF, the longer you can stay in the sun. I’m sceptical about sunscreens that advertise themselves as long-lasting or waterproof: SPF physically wears off with rubbing, sweating and water. The protection you get is more likely one hour to 80 minutes.

Always choose a sunscreen that has an SPF over more than 15 but don’t be fooled into thinking that a very high SPF will allow you to stay out in the sun for longer without consequences. An SPF 15 blocks 94 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UVB rays. Above SPF 30 you don’t get much additional protection from higher factors.

Look for sunscreens labelled ‘broad spectrum’ which aim to protect against UVA and UVB. Chuck out any old products that are past their use by dates or that have got hot in the sun: heat and time degrade the active ingredients.

Always consult with your GP if you notice any unusual changes in your skin or your moles. Any moles which become itchy or bleed, or change in colour, shape or size should be reported to your doctor.

TANNING MYTHS

A sun tan is healthy. A tan results from your body defending itself against further damage from UV radiation. A tan protects you from the sun. A dark tan on white skin only offers an SPF of about 4. You can’t get sunburnt on a cloudy day. Up to 80% of solar UV radiation can penetrate light cloud cover. You can’t get sunburnt while in the water. Water offers only minimal protection from UV radiation and reflections from water can enhance your UV radiation exposure. Sunscreens protect me so I can sunbathe much longer. Sunscreens are not intended to increase sun exposure time but to increase protection during unavoidable exposure. The protection they afford depends critically on their correct apapplication. If you take regular breaks during sunbathing you won’t get sunburnt. UV radiation exposure is cumulative during the day.